She was always late.
Consistently late.
Always even. Never odd.
She was always on time.
Ekko glanced at his wristwatch. 32 minutes past the hour. He knew he had at least one more. He decided to spend it surveying the room.
The old playground. A sacred place for himself. Powder. Vi. Mylo. Claggor. Rustic walls provided the children with sanctuary and community in their time of need. Glass shards remained scattered throughout the floor, signs of struggles with scandals and Enforcers after Vander passed. Spider webs, dust, and mites blanketed the adjourning area in a sea of greys and whites. Colors of age. The past.
33 minutes past the hour.
For the last five years, Ekko and his long-time childhood friend, Powder, would meet on this day to mourn their fallen friends. Ekko treasured this time. He was angry; at least his head was, that Powder turned her back on the community in its greatest time of need. But he also understood. She was… different after the accident. She never told him why. He never asked. He disapproved of Silco, but also knew he was not able to provide for her the way she needed at this feelings for her were paternal. Once he established his sanctuary, maybe...
34 minutes past the hour. Not one second before. Not one after.. Sounds of broken glass. The aroma of rose-infused gunpowder. She had arrived.
Ekko turned. A young, slender frame came into focus, two long pigtails swaying behind her. This was not who Ekko remembered. He recognized the face, but not the features. What was once a young child, was now a young woman. He hesitated, taking this in. She noticed.
Powder's eyes shot down to her feet. She wasn't used to this kind of attention. Not from him.
"Hi there.", she said, sheepishly, raising her eyes slightly, then lowering again..
"Powder… hi." he returned, followed by silence. Deafening silence.
The two stood there for a moment, not sure how to move. With no other option, they did what all young adults do when faced with insurmountable awkwardness: dug deep, and found a way to double down on the pain.
"How's…" Powder started.
"You look…" Ekko interrupted.
"Oh sorry I…"
"No you…"
"It's really nice to see you!" both exclaimed at once while reaching for a hug.
"THUD". The sound of heads clashing reverberated throughout the room. The painful icebreaker was what they needed to escape awkward hell.
"Ow… Ekko your head is still hard as bricks.", yelled Powder.
"I thought those pigtails were seatbelts for your forehead… they do nothing!" Ekko quipped back. They looked at each other like they have their entire lives; as dear friends, with unspoken feelings. The room warmed with familiar laughter.
"It's good to see you Pow-Pow!", said Ekko, retooling his efforts for a proper hug.
"You too little man.. Although I don't know if I can call you that anymore!" replied Powder, reciprocating the embrace.
There were a lot of wrong things. At a lot of wrong times. But in this moment in time, for these lost souls - the world was made whole.
If only they could freeze time.